Yeah, I know the table flat area in which I reside is anathema to climbing, but love to travel to the western part of the state for backpacking and mtb'ing. What's the closest good stuff for me to expand my horizons beyond the rock gym?

Doesn't look like the climbers are giving you much help. Don't know if there are closer spots, but Little Stony Man in Shenandoah is popular for top roping and you can camp fairly nearby. Old Rag Mtn. is another possibility along with the cliffs on each side of the Potomac above Washington, DC (Great Falls and Carderock).

gegarrenton wrote:Yeah, I know the table flat area in which I reside is anathema to climbing, but love to travel to the western part of the state for backpacking and mtb'ing. What's the closest good stuff for me to expand my horizons beyond the rock gym?

Any help would be most appreciated.

Graham

You're a long away from anything decent.... Seneca/ Franklin/ NRG is gonna be more like 5 or 6 hours away! Technically, the closest thing to VA beach would be in Richmond (2-3 hours?). Can't remember the name of it, but people like to sport climb and top rope on some old stone bridge-pillars. The climbing isn't bad, from what I hear. I think you might even be able to place trad gear there.

There are 'secret spots' just west of Charlottesville that are damn good and will get better over the coming years. (Trad and sport). I think this would be about 3 hours or so from VA beach (straight shot on I-64). PM if your interested in directions to these crags.

In Shenandoah, you have the following options" Little Stony Man cliffs (Top rope olny- unless you're into hard aid/ or dangerous trad climbing), Ravin Rocks (mostly top rope, I think), and Old Rag (excellent trad, some top rope, some sport). Ravin Rocks will be closest to VA beach, followed by Lil Stony Man, and then Old Rag.

All of these are viable options for weekend trips. Seneca and the New would be suitbale for multi-day trips. The Richmond crag can be done in the day.

Yeah, Rick got three speeding tickets heading to Stone from Va Beach!! LOL But it is about 6 hours, I am sure he just got mixed up on the times, but I believe 2 hours to Carder Rock! This cat flies down the road, and you better pee when you get gas!

Rick: That was funny when that State Trooper tasted our chalk at that road block because he thought it was Cocaine!!!! The look on his face was priceless!!!